Can the right equipment help you play better golf? It certainly can. And if you've done any shopping for golf clubs recently, you know that you can pay $400 or more for the latest high-tech driver if you want to.

But be careful if you do. You may find yourself in a foursome with someone who booms the ball 50 yards farther than you with a beat-up club he bought in a garage sale for $5.

So the equipment with serious price tags is for serious golfers.

Before you invest in any clubs, you should ask yourself what kind of a golfer you are. Are you the kind that will be content to play a few rounds a year -- say at company outings? Or are you the golfer that lost out on the club championship last year on the last hole -- and is determined to win it this year? Most of us are somewhere between those extremes, but I think you get the point. The kind of clubs that are ideal for you, and what they cost, should match your unique circumstances and budget as nearly as possible.

The following articles will give you a good understanding of some key equipment issues for golfers.